Towards Stronger Regional Integration
During President Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to Mauritius, the President of the Mayotte Departmental Council, Ben Issa Ousseni, traveled to the sister island to consolidate the territory’s regional strategy. The visit served to confirm several existing partnerships in the Indian Ocean and to reaffirm Mayotte’s role within the French Republic.
Ben Issa Ousseni emphasized the importance of strengthened regional integration for Mayotte. He highlighted maritime collaborations with the Indian Ocean Commission (CNOI) and educational programs. More than 100 students from Mayotte are currently studying in Mauritius, illustrating the importance of education in the strategy for closer ties. According to him, “education is an essential pillar for preparing young people from Mayotte to integrate into a competitive regional environment.”
During the inauguration of the new French embassy, President Ousseni announced the upcoming arrival of a representative from Mayotte at the diplomatic premises. The official agreement will be signed at the next Regional Cooperation Conference. This initiative is a first for Mayotte and marks a concrete step towards greater visibility within regional bodies. This measure is part of a broader project stemming from an agreement signed in April 2025 between the French State and the Departmental Council of Mayotte. This project provides for the deployment of Mayotte staff to regional diplomatic missions, with three specific posts in Mauritius, Madagascar, and Mozambique.
Cooperation between the two regions extends beyond the diplomatic sphere. This cooperation encompasses the maritime sector and the field of education. According to the Élysée Palace and the Indian Ocean Commission, Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need to fully integrate French territories into regional organizations.
For Ousseni, Mayotte remains fully French while striving for strong regional integration. The main objective is to consolidate economic, educational and maritime cooperation and to guarantee a visible place for the island in the institutions of the Indian Ocean.
